Columbia upsets Villanova as Kyle Neptune’s critical third season begins in embarrassing fashion

A critical season for third-year Villanova coach Kyle Neptune is already off to a shaky start after the Wildcats lost 90-80 at home to Columbia on Wednesday night. The loss dropped Villanova to 1-1 and represents a first blot on its record as the program continues to struggle to find its footing in the post-Jay Wright era.

Fifth-grader Eric Dixon led the Wildcats with 33 points, but Villanova struggled defensively against a Columbia team picked to finish fifth in the Ivy League. The veteran Lions got scoring contributions from nine players and hit 24 of 26 free throws while earning their first win over a Big East opponent since the 2012-13 season. Columbia’s 90 points were the most scored against Villanova since Butler scored 101 with the Wildcats during the 2017-18 season.

Columbia entered the evening ranked No. 217 by KenPom and had not finished above .500 since the 2015-16 season, marking just the latest embarrassing loss for Villanova under Neptune’s watch. Last season, the Wildcats lost to Penn on Nov. 13 before also falling to Saint Joseph’s and Drexel.

Those confusing losses contrasted with wins over Texas Tech, North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA during a spotty non-conference schedule for Villanova. Ultimately, the Wildcats were mired in those ugly losses and finished the 2023-24 season at 18-16 (10-10 Big East), missing their second straight NCAA Tournament.

With the program missing the Big Dance in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004, Neptune entered the 2024–25 season exposed to considerable pressure as he succeeded Wright, who led the Wildcats to national titles in 2016 and 2018 before unexpectedly retiring after the 2022 season.

Getting Dixon to return for his final season of eligibility was a shock to the Wildcats after exploring the NBA Draft process, but Villanova has suspect depth around him.

Dixon and senior guard Jordan Longino are the only returnees who were part of Villanova’s rotation last season. While Neptune added a handful of transfers, only one – former Miami guard Wooga Poplar – brings significant power conference experience. Poplar finished Wednesday with 16 points, while guards Tyler Perkins (Penn) and Jhamir Brickus (La Salle) combined for just nine points on 4 of 12 shooting in 26 and 24 minutes, respectively, and big man Enoch Boakye (Fresno State) only scored two points scored and six rebounds in 26 minutes.

Now Neptune must find a way to balance his new Wildcats or the pressure on him will only increase.